Goleski returned to Tribe, Kennedy takes the fifth

Two decisions came down the final day of Arizona camp: Manager Bob Geren officially named Joe Kennedy as the fifth starter, which was pretty much expected, and Rule-5 draftee Ryan Goleski was returned to the Indians.

It was apparent for some time that Goleski wouldn’t make the A’s Opening Day roster after a poor spring, but what left the outfielder surprised was that Cleveland wanted him back even though Oakland pushed to make a trade to keep him. The Indians have a wealth of young outfielders in their system, it’s far and away the organization’s strength, and Goleski believes he’s in the back of the pack there. The A’s would have sent him to Triple-A, but it’s likely that Cleveland won’t even have a spot for Goleski at that level and he’ll have to go back to Double-A, where he’s already proven he can play.

Ryan Goleski hits a sac fly in last Wednesday’s 11-10 win over the Royals.

He didn’t hide his disappointment, nor his unhappiness with the Indians, saying, “I thought the whole Rule-5 thing was a way to get out of Cleveland. . . .I wonder why Cleveland wants me back. I don’t even know if they have a spot for me at Triple-A or Double-A. It doesn’t make sense — don’t say you want to to hold on to me and then say you don’t have a position for me.”

Goleski had wrist surgery after the season, which the A’s weren’t aware before they made him the first pick of the Rule-5 draft (paying Tampa Bay $100,000 for that right), but because he appeared completely healthy all spring, Oakland is not making that an issue with the Indians, even if rehabbing from the wrist injury might have thrown off Goleski’s offseason routine enough to contribute to his .152 average this spring.